Allen & Heath Xone 92 vs Xone 96 - Comparison of Both Models

The Allen & Heath Xone series mixers are synonymous with world-class sound quality due to their analogue design. Even sound engineers from some of the world's most famous clubs confirm that Xone mixers are sonically outstanding when connected to large sound systems.

The Xone 92 and the Xone 96 represent the premium segment of the current Xone product range. The 92 dates back to 2003 and was actually a revised Xone 62, as Richie Hawtin suggested to the developers that it should be equipped with MIDI control and two channels for connecting effect pedals.

These small improvements to an already fantastic mixer with a purely analogue sound made the Xone 92 extremely popular, especially among techno DJs, as performing with software became increasingly popular and adding external effect units to one's setup became a trend.

The Xone 92 not only laid a solid foundation for creative and expressive mixes with its 4-band EQ and dedicated FX channels (Send/Return), but also proved to be very reliable, quickly becoming the second choice after the Pioneer DJM series mixers.

The 92 is still one of the preferred mixers in DJ setups, although it has some convenience issues, mainly because one of its main groups - software DJs - have to carry a sound card around with them if they want to use it.

Imagine how difficult it is at large events to switch between two DJs, each with their own laptop and often very different DJ equipment, and you don't want the music to stop between the two sets. 20 years ago, when DJs were still carrying around heavy record bags, this was not a problem, but today both DJs and stage managers prefer more convenient options as there is more advanced technology available.

Richie Hawtin's setup before the Model1

If it works, leave it alone!

Apart from the connection issues, there is not too much bad to say about the Xone 92. This is probably why it was harder for the designers to improve it than to develop a completely new mixer, but something had to be done about the lack of USB ports, and so after 15 years the Xone 96 was born.

Thankfully, some minor issues were also fixed that were usually not a problem, but were somewhat annoying, such as the clicking sound when activating one of the two filters or the large difference between the levels of the PHONO and LINE stages;

The most important extras are:

• Two USB ports and built-in 24-channel 32-bit / 96kHz USB sound cards - this finally allows DJs to connect their laptops using only USB cables. The two ports make seamless transitions between sets easier
• The new CRUNCH function (and the removal of the LFO), which is a harmonic distortion effect that can be assigned to one of the filters
• The BOOTH EQ, a very DJ-friendly feature, as it can seriously damage your ears if the booth monitors are not set up correctly - with the 96 you have the opportunity to correct some of the high/mid/low frequencies
• Parametric EQ on the send/return channels - a very cool feature if you use effect units, as it allows you to lower or boost a specific range between 190 and 2750 Hz. This way, you can highlight some of the most interesting sounds generated by your effect unit or eliminate unwanted muddiness that often occurs in the mids.
• DUAL CUE system - a wonderful feature for back-to-back sessions, as it allows two DJs to use the cue system independently of each other
• Innofader Crossfader - Xone mixers will always have a bad reputation among hip-hop/scratch DJs because of their crossfaders, but the 96 also solves this problem
• Improved phono preamps - you no longer have to worry about catching up on GAIN when playing vinyl with digital files
• Improved filter system - filter clicks and pops are a thing of the past with the 96.
• It is also worth mentioning that the Xone 96 is larger (due to the additional components) - It is 1.5 cm wider, 6 cm taller and 2 cm thicker than the 92, which allows for a more spacious layout of the EQ knobs

In summary, one could easily come to the conclusion that the Xone 96 is the epitome of the legendary DJ mixer series from Allen & Heath.

Yes, it would be great to have a few built-in effects to make it a tough competitor for the Pioneer DJM series, but Xone mixers were never particularly good in this respect. Although they developed the DB series, which had very extensive FX options, it was too complicated for the average user, so they never gained great popularity and were discontinued.

The upgrades are spot on and we think this is more than enough to make it the Xone flagship mixer, especially for clubs, as you can literally connect everything without any difficulties.

This means you can connect four turntables, four digital players, two laptops and two external effect units at the same time and switch between them by simply turning a knob. Even if you don't play with software, you can use one of the USB ports to record your mixes directly to your computer.

So why do some DJs still stick with the Xone 92?

As excellent as the 96 is, one might wonder why not everyone has switched to the 96, or why the 92 is still being produced at all after the release of the 96. After using it for several years since its release and after extensive feedback from our users, we can name a few reasons for choosing the 92:

• A matter of feel: Although you feel "at home" immediately when switching from a 92 to a 96, the feel is slightly different. The 96's faders have more resistance, the cue buttons feel less springy, and although the larger 96 allows you to turn the knobs more comfortably, many DJs have reported that they prefer the more compact layout. Anyone who has never used a Xone 92 will probably not complain about any of these points, but long-term users of the 92 can get very accustomed to its overall feel.
• You don't play with software: If that's the case, there's no significant reason to prefer the 96 over the 92. All other new features may be useful, but for the average user they are quite dispensable. The only exception would be the more powerful phono preamps of the 96 if you mix vinyl with digital files, but in most situations the 92 will still be up to the task, and perhaps the dual cue system if you are a DJ duo or regularly play back-to-back.
• Lack of long-term experience: Although the 96 is said to be just as robust as its older brother, it is still relatively new on the market, with different technology and more internal components, which means more things can go wrong. Fortunately, no serious problems have been reported so far, but it does not yet have the experience of almost 20 years of intensive use in clubs. We don't think this should be a cause for concern, it should rather encourage people to trust Xone mixers, but there are also many famous DJs like Ricardo Villalobos or Sven Väth who still stick with the 92, and that inevitably leads to a certain additional popularity.

In short, Xone 96 is recommended for:

• Anyone who plays with a laptop/computer
• Club owners and event planners who regularly invite DJs who use different methods for performing, as the 96 can meet almost any requirement
• Anyone who wants future-proof technology
• DJ duos or those who regularly host B2B sessions

The Xone 92 is recommended if:

• You do not intend to use software and want to get started at a lower price

No matter which mixer you choose, you can be sure that both mixers have the high-quality analogue sound you can expect from Allen & Heath and that they are very well built, so reliability shouldn't be an issue.